Railway car superstructure



Sept. 14, 1965 R. J. woJclKowsKl 3,205,836

RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE Filed Sept. 3, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lo BCDEFGHIJ/KLM Sept 14, 1965 R. J. woJclKowsKl 3,205,836

RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE Filed Sept. 3, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 14, 1965 R. J. woJclKowsKl 3,205,836

RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 3, 1965 Sept. 14, 1965 R. J. woJclKowsKl RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. s, 196s United States Patent O ice 3,205,836 RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE Richard J. Wojcikowski, Toledo, Ohio, assigner to Dana Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Virginia Filed Sept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 3%,114 5 Claims. (Cl. 10S-368) This invention relates generally to superstructures having a vertically movable deck for use on railway cars to transport vehicles and more particularly to an improvement in such structures whereby the movable deck is operative to interlock the laterally spaced portions of the superstructure.

Railway car superstructures for use in transporting vehicles are relatively old in the art. cent advances have been made in such structures to enable a greater number of vehicles to be carried simultaneously on a given railway car resulting in more economical transporting. One such structure is of multiple level construction wherein a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts are carried by the railway car and a plurality of decks are carried by the side posts. These decks are adapted to be moved vertically upwardly relative to the car during loading and unloading of the vehicles and then lowered to a transporting position wherein the decks above the lower level closely approach the upper portions of the vehicle carried by the deck below the same.

These movable decks, of necessity from a labor and time saving standpoint, must be easily and rapidly movable vertically; accordingly, they are normally lifted by cables and the like and in their lowered position rest on supporting means carried by the side posts. The side posts of these prior art devices are securedly laterally interconnected at their lower ends only, since any fixed laterally extending connection above their lower ends would interfere with the loading and unloading of vehicles on the superstructure.

Accordingly, when the upper decks are subjected to a lateral urging force, such yas centrifugal force arising when the railway car rounds a curve, they impose a lateral outward force on the side posts lying in the direction of such force; the side posts themselves are also urged in such direction due to the centrifugal force acting upon them. These forces, especially because of the mechanical advantage present due to beam strain, tend to angularly deflect the side posts relative to the lower deck interconnecting the lower ends of all the posts, and, upon the angular deflection of the side posts relative to the lower deck, the angular relationship between the upper movable decks and the side posts also changes. When the deflection of the posts results from lateral swaying of the whole superstructure, the normally rectangular cross-section configuration of the superstructure assumes a parallelogram configuration, while upon lateral spreading of the side posts it assumes atrapezoidal configuration.

The lateral spreading of the side posts can be easily controlled by merely placing engaging means for inhibiting relative lateral movement between the movable decks and the supporting means on the side posts upon which the decks rest when in their lower position. Such an engaging means would become operative when the deck is lowered on the supporting means and will prevent the superstructure from assuming a trapezoidal configuration. However, engaging means inhibiting relative lateral move- However, many re- 3,2%,836 Patented. Sept. 14, 1965 ment will not solve all the above mentioned problems, for in lateral swaying of the entire superstructure, if the movable deck merely laterally engaged the side posts, the deck and the posts on both sides of the superstructure will tend to move in the same direction which will result in a pivotal movement about the lateral engaging means and an angular displacement of the movable deck relative to the side posts and of the side posts relative to the means interconnecting their lower ends. Additionally, on many occasions, the vehicle transporters, when the vehicles reach their destination, lift the decks, unload the vehicles, and then return the railway cars with the decks in the elevated position to its point of origin to be reloaded. Although this is undesirable since it imposes undue stresses on the structure, it is often done since it saves the time and labor of lowering the decks after unloading at the destination and of reraising them at the point of origin to re-load. The above mentioned lateral engaging means would be inoperative to interlock the side post during this return of the railway cars with the decks in the upper position.

If the movable decks were fiXedly secured to the side posts, the above angular displacement between the decks and the side posts could not take place (that is without deformation of the connection), but would not allow for vertical movement of the movable decks. However, since the fixed connection operates to prevent such angular displacement by transmitting a torsional load between the movable deck and the side posts, a connection between the movable deck and the posts which will allow vertical movement of the deck while being capable of transferring a torsional load between the decks and the side posts with little deformation will inhibit such angular displacement and lateral swaying.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide means for improving the lateral stability of a railway car superstructure having a vertically movable vehicle supporting deck.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for interlocking a vertically movable deck to the laterally spaced side posts of a vehicle carrying superstructure for a railway car.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an interlocking means which will interlock a deck and a post and limit relative angular movement while transferring torsional loads therebetween.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which will interlock the deck and side post when the deck is in its vertically upward or raised position.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an interlocking means in the form of a hinge joint including la pair of pivotal connections adapted for uniplanar pivotal movement, the pivotal plane being parallel to the side post and extending longitudinally of the railway car.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a hinge joint including two pivotally connected members wherein one of said members is pivotally connected to said movable deck, the other member is pivotally connected to a side post, and said connections being pivotal solely within said pivotal plane so that the hinge joint is operative to transmit torque between said members in a plane other than said pivotal plane upon relative angular movement of said post and deck.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent upon a consideration lof the specification when taken in view of the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a railway car on which is disposed a vehicle carrying superstructure incorporating this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the support means carried by a side post and adapted to support the second vehicle carryingy deck;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a connection between one of the side posts and the upper vehicle carrying deck of the superstructure;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and l() are views taken along the lines 7 7, 8-8, 9 9 and 10-10 respectively in FIG. 5 and FIG. l1 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 5 with certain elements omitted for added clarity.

Referring to the drawings, a railway car 10, provided with the usual wheel and axle assembly 12, has disposed thereon a vehicle carrying superstructure 14. More particularly, the car 10 has a main frame 16 extending longitudinally the full length thereof and extending laterally from both sides of the frame 16 is a tioor 18 of the railway car. The lateral portions of the tloor 18 are deformed angularly upwardly as shown at 20 from a lower portion 19 of the oor and terminate in horizontally disposed edge portions 22.

The superstructure 14 includes a longitudinally extending lower deck 24 having iixedly secured thereto, as by welding, a first plurality of vertically extending side posts 26 spaced longitudinally on one lateral side thereof and a second plurality of vertically extending side posts 28 spaced longitudinally on the other side thereof so that the deck 24 interconnects the lower ends of the posts 26 and 28; each post 26 of said rst plurality being disposed in a laterally aligned, paired relationship with a post 28 of said second plurality. The posts 26 are also interconnected by a pair of longitudinally extending braces 30 and the posts 28 are also interconnected by pair of longitudinally extending braces 32, which braces inhibit relative longitudinal movement of the posts.

The tloor 18 of the car 10 has a pair of longitudinally extending skids 34 and 36 on each lateral side thereof; the skids 34 being carried by the lower portion 19 of the floor and the skids 36 being carried on the horizontal edge portion 22, which skids slidingly engage the lower deck 24 of the superstructure so that relative longitudinal movement may occur therebetween.V A C-shaped clamp 38 is suitably secured to each of the side posts 26 and 28 and extends therefrom under the horizontal portions 22 of the floor 18 to inhibit vertical and lateral movement of the superstructure relative to the railway car while allowing relative longitudinal movement therebetween. A plurality of cushion devices, one of which is shown at 40, interconnect the superstructure 14 and the railway car 10 to cushion and limit the relative longitudinal movement therebetween. There are many well known cushion devices which can be used in this capacity and since such cushions form no part of this invention, further explanation is deemed unnecessary.

The superstructure 14 also includes a second and a third deck 42 and 44, which are vertically spaced above the lower deck 24 and extend longitudinally of the railway car 10. Each deck 42 and 44 is divided longitudinally into two portions at the location indicated at A in FIG. l for ease of assembly and operation.

The second deck 42 is supported at its lateral edges by supporting means, shown generally at 46, carried by the side posts 26 and 28. Referring to FIG. 2 and also to FIG. 3 wherein the support means 46 is shown in detail and the deck 42 has been shown fragmentarily for added clarity, the supporting means 46 includes a right-triangularly shaped bracket 48 welded to the inner side of the side posts 26 or 28 so as to present a horizontal upper surface 50. A pair of flanges 51 are welded to the bracket 48, one being positioned on each longitudinal side thereof, so as to form a channel 52 therebetween with the upper surface of the bracket forming a base of the channel. A convex lip 54 is welded to the upper surface 58 of the bracket 48 at a position remote from the side post 2S carrying the same.

An engaging means 56 is secured to the deck 42 and adapted to engage the supporting means 46. More particularly, the lateral edge of the deck 42 has an L-shaped sill 58 secured thereto; the base portion of the sill extending under and being secured to the bottom of the deck. A spacer block 60 is also secured to the bottom of the deck inwardly of and adjacent the sill 58 and of a thickness equal to that of the base of the sill. The engaging means 56 is secured to the base of the sill 58 and spacer block 60 and is'of a U-shaped channel configuration with a base 62 of the channel positioned downwardly and adapted to engage the upper surface 58 of the bracket 48. The engaging means 56 is of a width such that it tits within the channel 52 of the support `means 46 and the base 62 has a portion 64 thereof formed concavely and adapted to register with and engage the convex lip 54.

Each side post 26 and 28 at the level of the second deck 42 may be provided with the supporting and engaging means 46 and S6 arrangement as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The deck 42 is restrained from longitudinal movement relative to the side posts by the engagement between the anges 51 and the engaging means 56. Lateral spreading of the posts 26 and 28 relative to each other is restrained by the lateral engagement between the convex lip 54 and the concave portion 64. However, lateral sway of the entire superstructure 14 is not satisfactorily restrained by the above lateral engagement, since in swaying, the angular relationship between the side posts 26 and 28 and the deck 42 will vary. The restraining of such angular variations requires a connection between the side posts and the deck which is capable of transmitting a torsional load therebetween and is sufficiently rigid so as not to be substantially deformed while transmitting such a load.

The third deck 44 is also supported at its lateral edges by the side posts 26 and 28. At the locations indicated at B, E, G, H, I and M in FIG. 1, the deck 44 is provided with engaging means 56 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 while the side posts 26 and 28 are provided with supporting means 46 which cooperate as described above. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, at the locations indicated at C, D, F, I, K and L, the deck is supported by a connecting means shown generally at 66 which is capable of transmitting a torsional load between the deck 44 and the side posts 26 and 28 when the same vary in their angular relationship.

Referring to FIIGS. 5-11, wherein the connecting means 66 is sh-own in greater detail, a first pair -of longitudinally elongated unitarily movable members 68 and 70 are each provided with 4an aligned openin-g7 2 in the right end thereof .and an aligned opening 74 in the left end thereof. A second pair of longitudinally elongated Iunitarily movable members 76 and 78 are disposed in parallel relationship with the members 68 and 7 8 and with the member 76 positioned between the members 68 and 70 and the member 78 positioned laterally inwardly of the member so that the members 68, 78, 76 and 78 are y'arranged in an interleaved relationship. P-ortions of the inner lateral side of the members 68 .and 70 are in abutting engagement with portions of the outer lateral side of the members 76 and 78 respectively. The right end :of .the members 76 and 78 are each provided with an opening 79 while the left end of these members are provided with an opening 80 aligned with the openings 74 in the members 68 and 70. A spacer washer 82 :is `spacingly disposed between the members 70 and 76 and welded 4to the member 76 while a washer 84 is positioned outwardly of each of the member 68 and the member 79. Each Washer 82 and 84 has an opening 85 therein .aligned with the openings 74 and 80 and a bolt 86 is secured in the aligned openings 74, 80 and 85 .by means of a lock washer 87 and nut 88 so that the members 68, 70, 76 and 78 are pivotally attached at their left ends with their axes disposed in a `pivotal plane lying parallel with the side posts 26 and 28 and extending longitudinally. The members 68 and 70 are able to transmit torque to the members 76 and 78 in directions other than in said pivotal plane as a result of the lateral engagement of the members land through the rugged pivotal connection at the bolt 86.

The members 76 and 78 are longer than the members 68 and 70 and extend beyond the right end thereof. A iirst Iattaching and spacing washer 90 is spacingly positioned between the members 76 and 78 and is of a width equal to rthe total .width of the member 70 and the spacer washer 82, while an .attaching washer 91 is positioned outwardly of the member 78 and an attaching Washer 92 is positioned outwardly -of the member 76. The washers 90, 91 and 92 are each provided with an -opening 94 aligned with the openings 79 in the :members 76 .and 78 and a bolt 96 is secured in the aligned openings 79 and 94 by means of a lock washer 98 and nut 100 so that the members 76 and 78 are pivotally secured to the washers 90, 91 and 92. The tops of the washers 90, 91 and 92 are each formed with a flat surface. Each lateral edge of the third deck 44 is provided with an L-shaped sill 102 and a spacer block 104 which are secured thereto in the same manner as the sills 58 and the blocks 60 are sec-ured to the deck 42. The flat surfaces .of the .washers 90, 91 and 92 engage the bottom of the sill 102 and block 104 and .are suitably secured thereto as by welding thereby pivotally securing the members 76 and 78 to `the deck 44 solely for pivotal movement in said pivotal plane so that the members 76 and 78 are operative to transmit torque to the deck 44 in directions other than in said pivotal plane.

The central portion P of e-ach of the lmembers 68 and 70 is of the same vertical height as -the uniform vertical height of the members 76 and 78. The portion P is the same longitudinal :length as the length of a right-triangularly shaped bracket 106 secured to the side post 26 or 28, and as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, and when the deck 44 is in its lower position, the portion P and the adjoining portions of the members 76 and 78 supportingly rest on the bracket 106 while the deck supportingly rests on the members 68, 70, 76 .and 78. The ends of the members 68 and 70 depend below and are slightly spaced from the sides of the bracket 106; however, they are engageable with the bracket to resist relative longitudinal movement between the deck 44 and the brackets.

The openings 72 in the members 68 and 70 are formed in a portion of the same depending below the members 76 and 78. A rst tr-iangularly shaped attaching block 108 is positioned -outwardly of the member 68 and a spacer Washer 110 is disposed between the block 108 and the member 68. The base of the block 108 is suitably secured, as by welding, to the side of the side post 26 or 28 at a position outwardly of a flange 112 formed thereon (see FIGS. 6 and 8), while the washer 110 spaces the member 68 from the block 108 so that the ange 112 is not pinched therebetween. A second and third attaching block 114 and 116, of a total width equal to the total width of the spacer 82 and member 76, are spacingly disposed between the members 68 and 70 with the upper surfaces thereof for-med .flat and of .a height so as to lie below the lower surface of the member 76 and the upper `sur-face of the bracket 106; the blocks 114 and 116 being suitably secured to the side of the bracket 106 as by welding. The blocks 108, 1'14 .and 116 and washer 110 are each provided with an opening 118 aligned with the openings 72 in the members 68 and 70, and a bolt 120 is secured in the aligned openings 72 and 118 by means of a lock washer 122 and nut 124 so that the members 6 68 yand 70 are pivotally attached at their right ends to the side post l26 or 28 solely for pivotal movement in said pivotal plane so that the members 68 and 70 are operative to transmit torque to the side post 26 or 28 carrying the same in .directions other than in said pivotal plane.

The connect-ing means 66 act as hinges to connect the deck 44 and the side posts 26 and 28 carrying the same, and since they pivot in a plane lying parallel to the posts 26 and 28 and extending in .a longitudinal direction, torsional loads resulting from lateral angular displacement may be transmitted thereby between the decks 44 and the side posts 26 and 28. Torsional loads are transferred between the first pair of members 68 and 70 and the second pair of members 76 and 78 both by the lateral engagement thereof and through the uniplanar pivotal connection therebetween afforded by the bolt l86. Because of the rugged and interleaved construction of the connect-ing means 66, it is able to transfer these torsional loads with little dellection .so that the deck 44 and side posts 26 and 28 are restrained from moving an-gularly relative to each other and lateral spreading of .the side posts 26 .and 28 and lateral sway of the superstructure 14 is inhibited even when the decks are in a raised position. The connecting means 66 can be provided between all the posts 26 and 28 and the third deck 44; however, such hinges are more expensive than the supporting and engaging means 46 and 56 so that only enough connecting means 66 have been used .as were deemed necessary to transmit the maximum calculated torsional load which m-ay arise between the deck 44 and the side posts.

Means are provided to raise and lower the second and third decks 42 and 44. A pair of Winches 130 and 132 are secured at opposite lateral sides of the lower deck 24 at approximatelyithe mid point thereof, which Winches are adapted to wind and unwind cables 134 and 136 respectively. The cables 134 and 136 pass under idler roller and brace assemblies 138 and 140 respectively and extend upwardly to the top longitudinal braces 30 and 32 respectively and longitudinally therealong. At each side post 26 and 28 the cables 134 and 136 are secured 4respectively to branch cables 142 and 144 which pass over an Iidler roller and bracket assembly 146 secured to the top of the side post. The cables 142 and 144 depend from the lrollers 146 and pass through openings 148 in the deck 44 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) and each have xedly secured to the end thereof a lug 150 which is adapted to engage the bottom of the sill 102 carried by the deck 44. Accordingly, as viewed in FIG. 2, the winch is adapted to raise the left side of the deck 44 while the winch 132 is adapted to raise the right side of the deck by winding up the cables 134 and 136 respectively. The Winches 130 and 132 have been shown in FIG. l in a longitudinally displaced relationship, however, these are normally laterally aligned and interlocked in a suitable manner `so that a winding movement of one results in a winding movement of the other and the lateral sides of the deck 44 move simultaneously.

Means are provided to guide the deck 44 in its vertical movement. Each post 26 and 28 is provided with a guide rod 152, the lower end thereof passing through an opening 154 in the bracket 106 of the connecting means 66 or the bracket 48 of the supporting means 46 for the top deck 44 and having a nut 156 secured to the lower end thereof and abutting the bracket 106 or 48 of the top deck. The top of the rod 152 passes through an opening 157 in a stand-olf bracket 158 secured to the side post 26 or 28 and a nut 160 i-s secured to the upper end thereof and abuts the upper side of the bracket 158. The rod 152 passes through -an opening 162 in the deck 44 and thereby guides the same in its vertical movement; the stand-olf bracket 158 being of a sufficient vertical distance above the brackets 106 or 48 to allow such vertical movement. The rod 152 passes through the space between the members 70 and 76 of the connecting means 66 `so that neither interferes with the operation of the other.

rod 164, the lower end thereof passing through -an open-y ing 166 -in the bracket 48 of the supporting means 46 and having a nut 168 -secured to the lower end thereof and abutting the bracket 48. The top of the rod 164 passes through an opening 169 in a stand-off bracket 170 secured to the side post 26 `or 28 and a nut 172 is secured to the upper end thereof and abuts the upper side of the bracket 170. The lrod 164 passes through an opening 174 in the deck 142 and an opening 176 in the engaging means 56 and thereby guides the same in its vertical movement; the stand-off bracket 170 being of sufficient vertical distance above the brackets 48 to allow for such movement.

Means is provided to lift the second deck 42. More particularly, a lifting rod 178 passes downwardly through an opening 180 in the third deck 44, the upper end of the rod projecting slightly above the deck and having secured thereto a nut 182 abuttingly engaging the top of the deck. The rod 178 extends through an opening 183 in the deck 42 .and has a nut 184 secured to the lower end thereof. Upon raising the top deck 44 by the cable-s 142 and 144, the lifting rod 178 is raised so that the nut 184 engages the bottom of the deck 42 carrying the latter upwardly with the third deck 44. Upon lowering of the third deck 44, the second deck 42 is lowered by the rod 178. The rod 178 passes through the space between the members 70 and 76 of the connecting means 66 so that neither interferes with the operation of the other. Preferably, the rod 178 and nut 184 extend below the deck 42 so that the deck 44 may be raised a desired amount above the second deck 42 before the nuts 184 engage the latter so that the second and third decks move unitarily upwardly after the engagement.

With the decks 42 and 44 in their raised positions, the vehicles, shown in phantom at 186, may be driven on to the deck and along the length thereof. When in the desired position, the vehicles are secured to the deck by means of tie-down devices shown generally at 188. During this raising operation, the deck 44 and connecting means 66 assume the position relative to the posts 26 and 28 shown in phantom in FIG. 5 wherein the connecting means still laterally interlocks the posts 26 and 28 through the deck 44 since they can only pivot in a longitudinally extending plane lying parallel to the posts. During transportation, the decks 44 and 42 are lowered so that the engaging means 56 on the decks 42 and 44 engage the supporting means 46 on the posts 26 and 28 and so that the connecting means 66 assumes the fully interleaved position shown in full lines in FIG. 5. Upon reaching the destination, the decks 42 and 44 are again raised and the vehicles 186 driven off of the decks.

It -is understood that the above description is illustrative only and that many changes and modification can be made therein without departing from the underlying scope of this invention as dened by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway car superstructure comprising in combination,

(a) a rst plurality of vertically extending longitudinally spaced side posts,

(b) la second plurality of vertically extending longitudinally spaced side posts,

(l) said second plurality of posts being laterally spaced from said first plurality of posts,

(c) means securedly interconnecting the lower ends of said side posts,

(d) a longitudinally elongated laterally extending vehicle carrying deck disposed between said side posts and being movable from a lowered position vertically upwardly relative to said side posts,

(e) means for moving said deck vertically relative to said side posts,

(f) and a plurality of cooperating means carried by 8 said movable deck and at least some of said rst and some of said second pluralitie-s of side posts,

(g) each of said last named means being operative to transmit torsional loads between said deck and said side posts carrying the same and including (l) a rst member carried by said deck and having a longitudinally elongated axis and a lateral engaging side,

(2) and a second member carried by said side posts and having a longitudinally elongated axis and a lateral engaging side,

(3) a substantial portion of said lateral sides of said rst and second members being in engagement when said deck is in its lowered position,

(h) whereby angular displacement of said side posts relative to said interconnecting means is inhibited.

2. A railway car superstructure comprising in combination,

(a) a first plurality of vertically extending longitudinally spaced side posts,

(b) a second plurality lof vertically extending longitudinally spaced side posts,

(1) said second plurality of posts being laterally spaced from lsaid first plurality of posts,

(c) means securedly interconnecting the lower ends of said side posts,

(d) a longitudinally elongatedlaterally extending vehicle carrying deck disposed between said side posts :and having a lowered position and being movable vertically relative to said side posts to a raised position,

(e) means for moving said deck vertically relative to said side posts,

(f) and a plurality of cooperating means carried by said movable deck and at least some of said rst and some of said second pluralities of side posts,

(g) each of said last named means including a rst and a second longitudinally extending member each having a lateral engaging side,

(h) means pivotally connecting one 4of the longitudinal ends of said first member to the side post carrying the same,

(i) means pivotally connecting one of the longitudinal ends of said second member to said deck,

4,5 (j) and means pivotally connecting the other longitudinal ends of said rst and second members,

(k) all of said pivotal connections being pivotal solely in a longitudinal plane extending parallel to said side posts and being arranged so that when said deck is in its lowered position substantially all of the engaging side of -said first member is in a lateral side-by-side engaging relationship with substantially all of the engaging side of said second member and said members are operative to transfer torsional loads arising from angular urging of said side posts relative to said interconnecting means whereby angular displacement-s `of said side posts relative to said interconnecting means is inhibited.

3. A railway car superstructure comprising in combina- 60 tion,

(a) a longitudinally elongated lower deck,

(b) :a first plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts xedly secured at their lower ends of said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom,

(c) a second plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts fixedly secured at their lower ends to said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom and being laterally spaced from said rst plurality of side posts,

(d) a movable deck vdisposed vertically above said lower deck and positioned between said first and second pluralities of side posts,

(e) said movable deck having a first position and being movable vertically upwardly from said first position and returnable to said first position,

(f) means for moving said movable deck vertically,

(g) a plurality of torque transferring means having an elongated longitudinal axis,

(h) some of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said first plurality of 'side posts and the other of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said second plurality of side posts,

(i) each of said torque transferring means including a first and a second longitudinally extending member having lateral engaging sides,

(j) means pivotally connecting one of the longitudinal ends of said first member to the side posts carrying the same,

(k) means pivotally connecting one of the longitudinal ends of said second member to said deck,

(l) and means pivotally connecting the other longitudinal ends of said first and second members,

(m) all of said pivotal connections being pivotal solely in a longitudinal plane extending parallel to said side posts and being arranged so that when said movable deck is in its first position said first and second members are in a lateral side-by-side engaging relationship and are operative to transmit torsional loads between said movable deck and said carrying side post arising from angular urging of said side post relative to said lower deck,

(n) whereby upon lateral urging of said movable deck and angular urging of said carrying side posts relative to said lower deck torsional loads are transmitted between said carrying side posts and said movable deck by said torque transferring means,

(o) said torque transferring means being operative to transmit such torque with little` deflection so that angular displacement of said side posts relative to said lower deck is inhibited and said movable deck is operative to move vertically relative to said side posts through the operation of said pivotal connections.

4. A railway lcar superstructure comprising in lcombination,

(a) a longitudinally elongated lower deck,

(b) a first plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts fixedly secured .at their lower ends to said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom,

(c) a second plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts fixedly secured at their lower ends to said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom and being laterally spaced from said first plurality of side posts,

(d) a movable deck disposed vertically above said lower deck and positioned between said first and second pluralities of side posts,

(e) said movable deck having a first position and being movable vertically upwardly from said first position `and returnable to said first position,

(f) means for moving said movable deck vertically,

(g) stop means carried by said side posts and operative to vertically supp-ort said movable deck when the latter is in its rst position,

(h) a plurality of torque transferring means having an elongated longitudinal axis,

(i) some of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said first plurality of side posts and the lother of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said second plurality of side posts,

(j) at least a portion of said torque transferring means being disposed between said stop means and said movable deck so that when said deck is in its first l0 position said torque transferring means is vertically supported by said stop means and said deck is vertically supported by said torque transferring means,

(k) means pivotally connecting each of said torque transferring means to said movable deck,

(l) and means pivot-ally connecting each of said torque transferring `means tosaid carrying side post,

(m) said pivotal connection being constructed and arranged so that said torque transferring means pivots relative to said movable deck and said carrying side posts solely in a longitudinal plane extending parallel to said side posts,

(n) whereby upon lateral urging of said movable deck and angular urging of said carrying side posts relative to said lower deck torque is transmitted between said carrying side posts and said movable deck by said torque transferring means,

(o) said torque transferring means being operative to transmit such torque with little deflection so that angular displacement of said side posts relative to said lower deck is inhibited and said movable deck is operative to move vertically relative to said side posts through the operation of said pivotal connections.

S. A railway car superstru-cture comprising in combination,

(a) a longitudinally elongated lower deck,

(b) :a first plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts fixedly secured at their lower ends to said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom,

(c) a second plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending side posts fixedly secured at their lower ends of said lower deck and extending vertically upwardly therefrom and being laterally spaced from said first plurality of side posts,

(d) a movable deck disposed vertically above said lower deck and positioned between said first and second pluralities of side posts,

(e) said movable deck having a first position and being movable vertically upwardly from said first position and returnable to `said first position,

(f) means -for moving said movable deck vertically,

(g) stop means carried by each of said side posts and operative to vertically support said movable deck when the latter is in its first position,

(h) a plurality of torque transferring means having an elongated longitudinal axis,

(i) some of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said first plurality of side posts and the other of said plurality of torque transferring means being carried by said movable deck and at least some of said second plurality of side posts,

(j) at least a portion of each of said torque transferring means being disposed between said stop means of said carrying side post and said movable deck so that when said movable deck is in its first position said torque transferring means is vertically supported by said stop means and said deck is vertically supported by said torque transferring means,

(k) said torque transferring means including a first and a second longitudinally extending member,

(l) means pivotally connecting one of the longitudinal ends of said first member to the side post carrying said torque transferring means,

(m) means pivotally connecting one of the longitudinal ends of said second member to said movable deck,

(n) and means pivotally connecting the other longitudinal ends of Isaid first and second members,

(o) all of said pivotal connections being pivotal solely in a longitudinal plane extending parallel to said side posts and being operative to transmit torsional loads between said movable deck and 'carrying side posts .arising from angular urging of said side posts relative to said lower deck,

(p) said torque transferring means being operative to transmit such torsional loads with little deection so that angular displacement .of said side posts relative to said lowerdeck is inhibited and said movable deck is operative to move vertically relative to said side posts through the operation of said pivotal connections.

1.2 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,385,115 9/45 Stuart 296-1 3,119,350 1/64 Bellinger 105--370 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

LEO QUACKENBUSH, Examiner. 

1. A RAILWAY CAR SUPERSTRUCTURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A FIRST PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SIDE POSTS, (B) A SECOND PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SIDE POSTS, (1) SAID SECOND PLURALITY OF POSTS BEING LATERALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF POSTS, (C) MEANS SECUREDLY INTERCONNECTING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID SIDE POSTS, (D) A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED LATERALLY EXTENDING VEHICLE CARRYING DECK DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SIDE POSTS AND BEING MOVABLE FROM A LOWERED POSITION VERTICALLY UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID SIDE POSTS, (E) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DECK VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID SIDE POSTS, (F) AND A PLURALITY OF COOPERATING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE DECK AND AT LEAST SOME OF SAID FIRST AND SOME OF SAID SECOND PLURALITIES OF SIDE POSTS, (G) EACH OF SAID LAST NAMED MEANS OPERATIVE TO TRANSMIT TORSIONAL LOADS BETWEEN SAID DECK AND SAID SIDE POSTS CARRYING THE SAME AND INCLUDING (1) A FIRST MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID DECK AND HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED AXIS AND A LATERAL ENGAGING SIDE, (2) AND A SECOND MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SIDE POSTS AND HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED AXIS AND A LATERAL ENGAGING SIDE, (3) A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID LATERAL SIDES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WHEN SAID DECK IS IN ITS LOWERED POSITION, (H) WHEREBY ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SIDE POSTS 